ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT
Exhibit (h)(xvi)
Execution Version
This Administration Agreement (“Agreement”) dated and effective as of April 17, 2013, is by and between State Street Bank and Trust Company, a Massachusetts trust company (“State Street”), and The Arbitrage Funds, a Delaware business trust (the “Trust”).
WHEREAS, the Trust is an open-end management investment company currently comprised of multiple series (each, a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”), and is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) by means of a registration statement (“Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“1933 Act”), and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”); and
WHEREAS, the Trust desires to retain State Street to furnish certain administrative services to the Trust, and State Street is willing to furnish such services, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
| 1. | Appointment of State Street |
The Trust hereby appoints State Street to act as administrator to the Trust for purposes of providing certain administrative services, currently limited to compliance services, for the period and on the terms set forth in this Agreement. State Street accepts such appointment and agrees to render the services stated herein.
The Trust currently consists of the Fund(s) and their respective classes of shares as listed in Schedule A to this Agreement. In the event that the Trust establishes one or more additional Fund(s) with respect to which it wishes to retain State Street to act as administrator hereunder, the Trust shall notify State Street in writing. Upon written acceptance by State Street, such Fund(s) shall become subject to the provisions of this Agreement to the same extent as the existing Fund, except to the extent that such provisions (including those relating to compensation and expenses payable) may be modified with respect to such Fund in writing by the Trust and State Street at the time of the addition of such Fund.
| 2. | Delivery of Documents |
The Trust will promptly deliver to State Street copies of each of the following documents and all future amendments and supplements, if any:
| a. | The Trust’s Declaration of Trust and By-laws; |
| b. | The Trust’s currently effective Registration Statement under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act and each Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) relating to the Fund(s) and all amendments and supplements thereto as in effect from time to time; |
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| c. | Copies of the resolutions of the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”) certified by the Trust’s Secretary authorizing (1) the Trust to enter into this Agreement and (2) certain individuals on behalf of the Trust to (a) give instructions to State Street pursuant to this Agreement and (b) sign checks and pay expenses; |
| d. | A copy of the investment advisory agreement between the Trust and its investment adviser; and |
| e. | Such other certificates, documents or opinions which State Street may, in its reasonable discretion, deem necessary or appropriate in the proper performance of its duties. |
| 3. | Representations and Warranties of State Street |
State Street represents and warrants to the Trust that:
| a. | It is a Massachusetts trust company, duly organized and existing under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts; |
| b. | It has the corporate power and authority to carry on its business in The Commonwealth of Massachusetts; |
| c. | All requisite corporate proceedings have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement; |
| d. | No legal or administrative proceedings have been instituted or threatened which would materially impair State Street’s ability to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement; and |
| e. | Its entrance into this Agreement shall not cause a material breach or be in material conflict with any other agreement or obligation of State Street or any law or regulation applicable to it. |
| 4. | Representations and Warranties of the Trust |
The Trust represents and warrants to State Street that:
| a. | It is a statutory trust, duly organized, existing and in good standing under the laws of its state of formation; |
| b. | It has the requisite power and authority under applicable laws and by its Declaration of Trust and By-laws to enter into and perform this Agreement; |
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| c. | All requisite proceedings have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement; |
| d. | It is an investment company properly registered with the SEC under the 1940 Act; |
| e. | The Registration Statement been filed and will be effective and remain effective during the term of this Agreement. The Trust also warrants to State Street that as of the effective date of this Agreement, all necessary filings under the securities laws of the states in which the Trust offers or sells its shares have been made; |
| f. | No legal or administrative proceedings have been instituted or threatened which would impair the Trust’s ability to perform its duties and obligations under this Agreement; |
| g. | Its entrance into this Agreement will not cause a material breach or be in material conflict with any other agreement or obligation of the Trust or any law or regulation applicable to it; and |
| h. | As of the close of business on the date of this Agreement, the Trust is authorized to issue unlimited shares of beneficial interest. |
| 5. | Administration Services |
State Street shall provide the following services, subject to the authorization and direction of the Trust and, in each case where appropriate, the review and comment by the Trust’s independent accountants and legal counsel and in accordance with procedures which may be established from time to time between the Trust and State Street:
Fund Administration Treasury Services
| a. | Provide periodic testing of the Fund(s) with respect to compliance with the Internal Revenue Code’s mandatory qualification requirements, the requirements of the 1940 Act and limitations for the Fund(s) contained in the Registration Statement for the Fund(s) as may be mutually agreed upon, including quarterly compliance reporting to the designated officer(s) of the Trust as well as preparation of Board compliance materials. |
State Street shall perform such other services for the Trust that are mutually agreed to by the parties from time to time, for which the Trust will pay such fees as may be mutually agreed upon, including State Street’s reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. The provision of such services shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
State Street shall provide the office facilities and the personnel determined by it to perform the services contemplated herein.
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| 6. | Fees; Expenses; Expense Reimbursement |
State Street shall receive from the Trust such compensation for State Street’s services provided pursuant to this Agreement as may be agreed to from time to time in a written Fee Schedule approved by the parties. The fees are accrued daily and billed monthly and shall be due and payable upon receipt of the invoice. Upon the termination of this Agreement before the end of any month, the fee for the part of the month before such termination shall be prorated according to the proportion which such part bears to the full monthly period and shall be payable upon the date of termination of this Agreement. In addition, the Trust shall reimburse State Street for its out-of-pocket costs incurred in connection with this Agreement. All rights of compensation and expense reimbursement under this Agreement for services performed as of the termination date shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
The Trust agrees promptly to reimburse State Street for any equipment and supplies specially ordered by or for the Trust through State Street and for any other expenses not contemplated by this Agreement that State Street may incur on the Trust’s behalf at the Trust’s request or with the Trust’s consent.
The Trust will bear all expenses that are incurred in its operation and not specifically assumed by State Street. Expenses to be borne by the Trust, include, but are not limited to: organizational expenses; cost of services of independent accountants and outside legal and tax counsel (including such counsel’s review of the Registration Statement, Form N-CSR, Form N-Q, Form N-PX, Form N-MFP, Form N-SAR, proxy materials, federal and state tax qualification as a regulated investment company and other notices, registrations, reports, filings and materials prepared by State Street under this Agreement); cost of any services contracted for by the Trust directly from parties other than State Street; cost of trading operations and brokerage fees, commissions and transfer taxes in connection with the purchase and sale of securities for the Trust; investment advisory fees; taxes, insurance premiums and other fees and expenses applicable to its operation; costs incidental to any meetings of shareholders including, but not limited to, legal and accounting fees, proxy filing fees and the costs of preparation (e.g., typesetting, XBRL-tagging, page changes and all other print vendor and XXXXX charges, collectively referred to herein as “Preparation”), printing, distribution and mailing of any proxy materials; costs incidental to Board meetings, including fees and expenses of Board members; the salary and expenses of any officer, director\trustee or employee of the Trust; costs of Preparation, printing, distribution and mailing, as applicable, of the Trust’s Registration Statements and any amendments and supplements thereto and shareholder reports; cost of Preparation and filing of the Trust’s tax returns, Form N-1A, Form N-CSR, Form N-Q, Form N-PX, Form N-MFP and Form N-SAR, and all notices, registrations and amendments associated with applicable federal and state tax and securities laws; all applicable registration fees and filing fees required under federal and state securities laws; the cost of fidelity bond and D&O/E&O liability insurance; and the cost of independent pricing services used in computing the Fund(s)’ net asset value.
State Street is authorized to and may employ, associate or contract with such person or persons as State Street may deem desirable to assist it in performing its duties under this Agreement; provided, however, that the compensation of such person or persons shall be paid by State Street and that State Street shall be as fully responsible to the Trust for the acts and omissions of any such person or persons as it is for its own acts and omissions.
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| 7. | Instructions and Advice |
At any time, State Street may apply to any officer of the Trust or his or her designee for instructions and may consult with its own legal counsel or outside counsel for the Trust or the independent accountants for the Trust at the expense of the Trust, with respect to any matter arising in connection with the services to be performed by State Street under this Agreement.
State Street shall not be liable, and shall be indemnified by the Trust, for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith in reliance upon any such instructions or advice or upon any paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed by the proper person or persons. State Street shall not be held to have notice of any change of authority of any person until receipt of written notice thereof from the Fund(s). Nothing in this section shall be construed as imposing upon State Street any obligation to seek such instructions or advice, or to act in accordance with such advice when received.
| 8. | Limitation of Liability and Indemnification |
State Street shall be responsible for the performance only of such duties as are set forth in this Agreement and, except as otherwise provided under Section 6, shall have no responsibility for the actions or activities of any other party, including other service providers. State Street shall have no liability in respect of any loss, damage or expense suffered by the Trust insofar as such loss, damage or expense arises from the performance of State Street’s duties hereunder in reliance upon records that were maintained for the Trust by entities other than State Street prior to State Street’s appointment as administrator for the Trust. State Street shall have no liability for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss or damage resulting from the performance or nonperformance of its duties hereunder unless solely caused by or resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of State Street, its officers or employees. State Street shall not be liable for any special, indirect, incidental, punitive or consequential damages, including lost profits, of any kind whatsoever (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees) under any provision of this Agreement or for any such damages arising out of any act or failure to act hereunder, each of which is hereby excluded by agreement of the parties regardless of whether such damages were foreseeable or whether either party or any entity had been advised of the possibility of such damages. In any event, State Street’s cumulative liability for each calendar year (a “Liability Period”) with respect to the Trust under this Agreement regardless of the form of action or legal theory shall be limited to its total annual compensation earned and fees payable hereunder during the preceding Compensation Period, as defined herein, for any liability or loss suffered by the Trust including, but not limited to, any liability relating to qualification of the Trust as a regulated investment company or any liability relating to the Trust’s compliance with any federal or state tax or securities statute, regulation or ruling during such Liability Period. “Compensation Period” shall mean the calendar year ending immediately prior to each Liability Period in which the event(s) giving rise to State Street’s liability for that period have occurred. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Compensation Period for purposes of calculating the annual cumulative liability of State Street for the Liability Period commencing on the date of this Agreement and terminating on December 31, 2013 shall be the date of this Agreement through December 31, 2013, calculated on an annualized basis, and the Compensation Period for the Liability Period commencing January 1, 2014 and terminating on December 31, 2014 shall be the date of this Agreement through December 31, 2013, calculated on an annualized basis.
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Xxxxx Xxxxxx shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in performance of its obligations under this Agreement arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its control, including without limitation, work stoppage, power or other mechanical failure, computer virus, natural disaster, governmental action or communication disruption.
The Trust shall indemnify and hold State Street and its directors, officers, employees and agents harmless from all loss, cost, damage and expense, including reasonable fees and expenses for counsel, incurred by State Street resulting from any claim, demand, action or suit in connection with State Street’s acceptance of this Agreement, any action or omission by it in the performance of its duties hereunder, or as a result of acting upon any instructions reasonably believed by it to have been duly authorized by the Trust or upon reasonable reliance on information or records given or made by the Trust or its investment adviser, provided that this indemnification shall not apply to actions or omissions of State Street, its officers or employees in cases of its or their own gross negligence or willful misconduct.
The limitation of liability and indemnification contained herein shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
| 9. | Confidentiality |
The parties hereto agree that each shall treat confidentially all information provided by each party to the other party regarding its business and operations. All confidential information provided by a party hereto shall be used by the other party hereto solely for the purpose of rendering or receiving services pursuant to this Agreement and, except as may be required in carrying out this Agreement, shall not be disclosed to any third party. Neither party will use or disclose confidential information for purposes other than the activities contemplated by this Agreement or except as required by law, court process or pursuant to the lawful requirement of a governmental agency, or if the party is advised by counsel that it may incur liability for failure to make a disclosure, or except at the request or with the written consent of the other party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each party acknowledges that the other party may provide access to and use of confidential information relating to the other party to the disclosing party’s employees, contractors, agents, professional advisors, auditors or persons performing similar functions.
The foregoing shall not be applicable to any information (i) that is publicly available when provided or thereafter becomes publicly available, other than through a breach of this Agreement, (ii) that is independently derived by a party hereto without the use of any information provided by the other party hereto in connection with this Agreement, (iii) that is required in any legal or regulatory proceeding, investigation, audit, examination, subpoena, civil investigative demand or other similar process, or by operation of law or regulation, or (iv) where the party seeking to disclose has received the prior written consent of the party providing the information, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
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The undertakings and obligations contained in this Section shall survive the termination or expiration of this Agreement for a period of three (3) years.
| 10. | Compliance with Governmental Rules and Regulations; Records |
The Trust assumes full responsibility for complying with all securities, tax, commodities and other laws, rules and regulations applicable to it.
In compliance with the requirements of Rule 31a-3 under the 0000 Xxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxx agrees that all records which it maintains for the Trust shall at all times remain the property of the Trust, shall be readily accessible during normal business hours, and shall be promptly surrendered upon the termination of the Agreement or otherwise on written request except as otherwise provided in Section 12. State Street further agrees that all records that it maintains for the Trust pursuant to Rule 31a-1 under the 1940 Act will be preserved for the periods prescribed by Rule 31a-2 under the 1940 Act unless any such records are earlier surrendered as provided above. Records may be surrendered in either written or machine-readable form, at the option of State Street.
| 11. | Services Not Exclusive |
The services of State Street are not to be deemed exclusive, and State Street shall be free to render similar services to others. State Street shall be deemed to be an independent contractor and shall, unless otherwise expressly provided herein or authorized by the Trust from time to time, have no authority to act or represent the Trust in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Trust.
| 12. | Effective Period and Termination |
This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect for an initial term ending April ___, 2014 (the “Initial Term”). After the expiration of the Initial Term, this Agreement shall automatically renew for successive 1-year terms (each, a “Renewal Term”) unless a written notice of non-renewal is delivered by the non-renewing party no later than ninety (90) days prior to the expiration of the Initial Term or any Renewal Term, as the case may be. During the Initial Term and thereafter, either party may terminate this Agreement: (i) in the event of the other party’s material breach of a material provision of this Agreement that the other party has either (a) failed to cure or (b) failed to establish a remedial plan to cure that is reasonably acceptable, within 60 days’ written notice of such breach, or (ii) in the event of the appointment of a conservator or receiver for the other party or upon the happening of a like event to the other party at the direction of an appropriate agency or court of competent jurisdiction. Upon termination of this Agreement pursuant to this paragraph with respect to the Trust or any Fund, the Trust or applicable Fund shall pay State Street its compensation due and shall reimburse State Street for its costs, expenses and disbursements.
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In the event of: (i) the Trust’s termination of this Agreement with respect to the Trust or its Fund(s) for any reason other than as set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph or (ii) a transaction not in the ordinary course of business pursuant to which State Street is not retained to continue providing services hereunder to the Trust or a Fund (or its respective successor), the Trust or applicable Fund shall pay State Street its compensation due through the end of the then-current term (based upon the average monthly compensation previously earned by State Street with respect to the Trust or such Fund) and shall reimburse State Street for its costs, expenses and disbursements. Upon receipt of such payment and reimbursement, State Street will deliver the Trust’s or such Fund’s records as set forth herein. For the avoidance of doubt, no payment will be required pursuant to clause (ii) of this paragraph in the event of any transaction such (a) the liquidation or dissolution of the Trust or a Fund and distribution of the Trust’s or such Fund’s assets as a result of the Board’s determination in its reasonable business judgment that the Trust or such Fund is no longer viable (b) a merger of the Trust or a Fund into, or the consolidation of the Trust or a Fund with, another entity, or (c) the sale by the Trust or a Fund of all, or substantially all, of the Trust’s or Fund’s assets to another entity, in each of (b) and (c) where State Street is retained to continue providing services to the Trust or such Fund (or its respective successor) on substantially the same terms as this Agreement.
Termination of this Agreement with respect to any one particular Fund shall in no way affect the rights and duties under this Agreement with respect to the Trust or any other Fund.
| 13. | Notices |
Any notice or other communication authorized or required by this Agreement to be given to either party shall be in writing and deemed to have been given when delivered in person or by confirmed facsimile, by overnight delivery through a commercial courier service, or posted by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the following address (or such other address as a party may specify by written notice to the other):
If to the Trust:
The Arbitrage Funds
c/o Water Island Capital, LLC
00 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
If to State Street:
State Street Bank and Trust Company
X.X. Xxx 0000
Xxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Attn: Senior Vice President and Senior Counsel
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
| 14. | Amendment |
This Agreement may be amended at any time in writing by mutual agreement of the parties hereto.
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| 15. | Assignment |
This Agreement shall not be assigned by either party hereto without the prior consent in writing of the other party, except that State Street may assign this Agreement to a successor of all or a substantial portion of its business, or to a party controlling, controlled by or under common control with State Street.
| 16. | Successors |
This Agreement shall be binding on and shall inure to the benefit of the Trust and State Street and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
| 17. | Data Protection |
State Street shall implement and maintain a comprehensive written information security program that contains appropriate security measures to safeguard the personal information of the Trust’s shareholders, employees, directors and/or officers that State Street receives, stores, maintains, processes or otherwise accesses in connection with the provision of services hereunder. For these purposes, “personal information” shall mean (i) an individual’s name (first initial and last name or first name and last name), address or telephone number plus (a) social security number, (b) driver’s license number, (c) state identification card number, (d) debit or credit card number, (e) financial account number or (f) personal identification number or password that would permit access to a person’s account or (ii) any combination of the foregoing that would allow a person to log onto or access an individual’s account. Notwithstanding the foregoing “personal information” shall not include information that is lawfully obtained from publicly available information, or from federal, state or local government records lawfully made available to the general public.
| 18. | Entire Agreement |
This Agreement contains the entire understanding between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all previous representations, warranties or commitments regarding the services to be performed hereunder whether oral or in writing.
| 19. | Waiver |
The failure of a party to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Agreement on any occasion shall not be considered a waiver nor shall it deprive such party of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any term of this Agreement. Any waiver must be in writing signed by the waiving party.
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| 20. | Severability |
If any provision of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable, the balance of the Agreement shall remain in effect, and if any provision is inapplicable to any person or circumstance it shall nevertheless remain applicable to all other persons and circumstances.
| 21. | Governing Law |
This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without regard to its conflicts of laws provisions.
| 22. | Reproduction of Documents |
This Agreement and all schedules, exhibits, attachments and amendments hereto may be reproduced by any photographic, xerographic, photostatic, microfilm, micro-card, miniature photographic or other similar process. The parties hereto all/each agree that any such reproduction shall be admissible in evidence as the original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding, whether or not the original is in existence and whether or not such reproduction was made by a party in the regular course of business, and that any enlargement, facsimile or further reproduction of such reproduction shall likewise be admissible in evidence.
| 23. | Counterparts |
This Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto on any number of counterparts, and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their officers designated below as of the date first written above.
| THE ARBITRAGE FUNDS | ||
| By: | /s/Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx | |
| Name: | Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx | |
| Title: | VP/CCO | |
| STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |
| Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |
| Title: | Executive Vice President | |
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SCHEDULE A
Listing of Fund(s)
| Fund | Services |
| The Arbitrage Fund | Standard Compliance Testing |
| The Arbitrage Credit Opportunities Fund | Segregation Testing Only |
| The Arbitrage Event-Driven Fund | Segregation Testing Only |
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